WINDSOR FATHER JAILED FOR CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND CONTROLLING DIET CONTRACT
A father with a strong focus on fitness who compelled his daughter to sign an agreement to "never get fat" has received a 30-month prison sentence.Rachid Khadla, residing in Windsor, Berkshire, was found guilty of physically assaulting and emotionally manipulating his three children over a period of several years, as reported by Reading Crown Court.
The 56-year-old was convicted of multiple counts of assault and child cruelty.
During sentencing, Judge Kirsty Real described him as "a bully." The Crown Prosecution Service explained that Khadla was obsessed with health and dieting, having forced his daughter to sign a contract that vowed to "do lots of exercise" and explicitly declared she would "never get fat, even until I die." Prosecutor Alex Krikler disclosed that Khadla once threw a chair at his daughter when she was nine, leaving a keloid on her ear that required several surgeries.
He commented, "She describes feeling worthless and stupid due to her father," and noted her struggles with anxiety and eating disorders.
His children suffered frequent physical punishments with a wooden spoon, and he exerted control over their social interactions and activities.
Khadla’s abusive behavior was uncovered in 2019 when his teenage son reported to police that he had been strangled and punched by his father.
In a victim impact statement, the eldest son explained that the abuse, which began when he was five, resulted in ongoing mental health problems, experiences with bullying, and a sense of relief now that he is away from the home.
Khadla denied charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and child cruelty.
The judge highlighted that his misconduct effectively destroyed his children’s childhoods through numerous incidents of cruelty over many years, and described him as a "bully" who refused to take responsibility for his actions.
